Having your neck shaped: Many patients come to our clinic with this wish.
At the Yuveo Clinic Düsseldorf, we offer you suitable methods for performing a neck lift depending on the findings.
We take into account whether it is primarily a fat pad or sagging skin that is causing your dissatisfaction with the neck area.
In young people with fat deposits on the neck and excess weight, a sufficient neck lift can be achieved through diet and exercise without the need for a neck lift operation.
However, the tendency of the skin to shrink deteriorates with age.
Depending on the findings, various neck lifting techniques can be used.
This includes liposuction for volume reduction and various incision procedures that can also be used to remove excess skin.
We will go into the possibilities of surgical neck lift methods in more detail below.
Contents
Yuveo Clinic
Special features of the neck lift
From liposuction to the removal of large fat deposits and excess skin to a thread lift: a neck lift can be performed in a variety of ways.
Surgical techniques for neck lifts
Extreme cases of neck lifting
In the case of extreme findings, there is no way around a neck lift with a more extensive incision. In such cases, we have to remove considerable amounts of fatty tissue and skin as part of the neck lift.
“Turkey neck”
Such extreme cases are often referred to as turkey neck and fat neck by laypeople. These usually occur in the context of generalized obesity. However, they can also occur in isolation or after weight loss due to residual fat deposits and excess skin.
Lipomatosis
In the clinical picture of lipomatosis, these changes also often occur. This is referred to as“Madelung’s fat neck”.
Cutting guide
This only works with a significantly larger skin incision, which is usually zigzag-shaped (Z or W-plasty) and extends from below the chin partly to the larynx.
The zigzag incision is intended to prevent distortions from occurring as the scar shrinks during the healing phase. If the sutures are fine, the scars will be quite inconspicuous or barely visible.
Alternatively: Thread lift
If you do not wish to undergo this procedure or the extent of the sagging is not yet too great, a thread lift can also be considered. This is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require an incision and ensures a rapid recovery phase.
Frequently asked questions about tightening the neck
Can a neck lift be achieved with liposuction?
The least complex method of neck lifting is liposuction of the neck for a double chin.
A neck lift in young patients with good skin quality and a double chin can usually be achieved with the help of liposuction. The only prerequisite is a small to medium-sized fat pad below the chin.
The operation can be performed under local anesthesia, if necessary with twilight sleep.
A small, approx. 5 mm incision is made under the chin and from here the excess fatty tissue is removed using a fine cannula.
A compression bandage should also be worn for a few weeks after this ‘mini neck lift’ to avoid contour irregularities and to support the natural shrinkage of the skin.
What is the surgical technique for a larger double chin?
The neck lift must be performed in a special way in the case of a more pronounced double chin with slight sagging of the platysma muscle.
The method in which an approx. 5 cm long transverse incision is made below the chin is recommended.
We remove the excess fatty tissue with a knife/scissors and suture the two platysma muscle edges in the midline. This leads to a longer-lasting effect.
The finely stitched scar is barely visible under the chin.
Good skin quality is a prerequisite for this.
Is a neck lift part of the operation for a lower facelift?
In the case of a sagging face and neck, the combination of a facelift and neck lift should be considered if the tendency of the skin to shrink is expected to be poor.
In the case of pronounced findings, we combine the facelift with the neck lift techniques described on this page.
Otherwise, a facelift is usually more appropriate for a general sagging of the skin on the face
In a lower facelift, the skin of the neck is tightened by pulling it towards the ear and the excess skin is removed.
What do I need to bear in mind after a neck lift?
The aftercare of a neck lift is highly dependent on the type and extent of the operation performed and is described here in abbreviated form:
- Liposuction: Compression garment for 1 to 3 weeks, thread ex after 1 week
- Cross-section below the chin: compression garment for 3 to 5 weeks, stitches ex after 2 weeks
- Extreme neck lift with Z-plasty or W-plasty: compression garments for 3 to 5 weeks, stitches removed after 2 weeks. Rest is also important, especially in the first 2 to 3 weeks.
- The wounds should be allowed to rest, especially after the first few days of the neck lift. So: speak little, chew little and avoid turning your head.
- Depending on the type of neck lift, sporting activities should be avoided for approx. 6 weeks. However, this recommendation also depends on the type of sport.
Fact check
- Practitioners: Dr. Schumann and Dr. Schumann-Averkiou
- Anesthesia: local anesthesia with twilight sleep, general anesthesia if necessary
- Follow-up treatment: Compression for 1 to 5 weeks, rest
- Remove stitches: after 1 to 2 weeks
- Sport: Avoid sport for up to 6 weeks after surgery
- Alternative procedures: Thread lift
Further information on the topic
Synonymous mentions:
A surgical neck lift is also known as a neck lift or neck pexy.
What other questions arise on the subject?
What is the connection to lipomatosis?
